Irish Sports Daily

With Tyrone Nash on his way out and Scott Martin, Carleton Scott and Tim Abromaitis set to leave after the 2011-12 season, the Notre Dame men’s basketball team is looking for big guys.

6-foot-10, 215-pound junior forward Zach Auguste is one guy the Irish have their eye on in the class of 2012. Auguste, who is from Marlborough, Mass., attends New Hampton Prep in New Hampton, N.H.

He currently has offers from Notre Dame, Wake Forest, Boston College, Penn State, Oregon State, DePaul and UMass. He’s also getting interest from Kansas, Syracuse, Baylor, Georgia, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Maryland and Xavier.

Auguste was a standout in Central Massachusetts before transferring to New Hampton Prep, which allowed him to graduate in 2012 instead of 2011. The coaches have told Auguste they like his size and athleticism.

“They say I have a lot of potential and am a versatile player who can run the floor and play inside and outside,” Auguste said.

In January, Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey made the trip out East to catch Auguste as he squared off against another Irish recruit, Northfield Mount Hermon’s Evan Cummins. Auguste struggled early, but scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the second half as New Hampton earned a 67-65 victory.

It was Brey’s second trip to see Auguste in person after watching him play last fall.

“It was a little bit of pressure, but it felt nice having Mike Brey come watch me,” Auguste said.

Auguste said the Irish have been sending him information on Notre Dame’s campus and the basketball program. He’s hoping to take a visit to South Bend this fall.

“We’ve already talked about it, I’m going to head up to Midnight Madness,” Auguste said.

Auguste said he’ll be looking at each school’s basketball program and the relationship he forms with the coaches when he makes a decision.

He expects to have his decision made by October.

The Irish have one commitment in the class of 2011 in guard Patrick Connaughton and a pair in the class of 2012 in guard/forward Cameron Biedschied and forward Austin Burgett.

Taylor Decker couldn’t wait anymore.

The offensive lineman from Butler High School in Vandalia, Ohio thought about committing on the spot when Notre Dame offered him a scholarship, but decided it would be best for him to think things over a bit.

He planned a couple of unofficial visits to Notre Dame in March, but said he was going to hold off on a decision until checking out Michigan, Northwestern and Wisconsin as well.

On Friday, he decided, “Why wait?”

“I really started talking with my parents last night about how Notre Dame has always been my top school and everything,” the 6-foot-8, 285-pounder said. “Like I said, I almost committed right away and I don’t think I’ll be able to keep it back because that’s the one I’ve been waiting for.”

Decker called Irish assistant Tim Hinton late this morning with the news.

“He seemed surprised that it happened right now,” said Decker. “He seemed excited about it, which made me feel great. They took time to evaluate everything and make sure that I would fit. It just felt really good to hear that they felt really positive about it, as do I. I’m going to work hard and do everything I can to be great.”

Decker didn’t get to talk with Brian Kelly, but he did get to speak with his future position coach, Ed Warinner.

“I didn’t get to speak with Coach Kelly today because he was out,” said Decker. “I got to talk to Coach Warinner and a couple of the coaches. I’m still looking forward to going down there and meeting with them and also seeing an academic advisor.”

Decker has set his one unofficial to South Bend for next Wednesday and will be back in town when the Irish start spring practice on March 23rd. He will not be taking those trips to Ann Arbor, Evanston or Madison anymore. Decker called each coach and they appreciated his honesty.

Decker becomes the second member of Notre Dame’s 2012 recruiting class, joining California defensive back Tee Shepard, who committed on Wednesday. Decker will do his part to try to get other prospects to join him.

“I don’t really look at all of the player rankings and stuff, but if other players see kids they’ve possibly played against or they know of have committed, it might make them feel more comfortable going there,” he said. “If I’m there and there’s some kids who are unsure, I wouldn’t have a problem putting in a good word because I obviously think it’s a great place.”

Chris Davis is older than twin brother Demitrious by one minute. He also has a few pounds on him and one-hundredth of a second on him in the 40-yard dash.

“I ran a 4.37 at the Pitt camp and he ran a 4.38 at Cincinnati’s camp,” said Chris Davis from Austintown Fitch, Ohio .

But Demitrious has 'big brother' by an inch and two scholarship offers.

“He has Boston College and Pitt,” Chris said.

Both brothers have offers from Arkansas, Cincinnati, Indiana, Baylor, SMU, Kent State, Toledo and Bowling Green. The Razorbacks offered on Wednesday night while the Bearcats offered the twins on Thursday afternoon.

“Most coaches usually want both of us, same athlete basically, but some I guess don’t,” said Chris, who’s hoping to cut his brother’s scholarship lead in half soon. “I’m talking to Georgia, they’re talking to me and not really him. Hopefully I get that.”

The brothers say they want to go to the same college, but won’t force things.

“We want to go together, but we have to put ourselves in the best possible position,” Chris said.

At 5-10, 187 pounds, Demitrious plays quarterback for Austintown Fitch High School, but colleges are looking at both brothers as receivers and/or defensive backs.

Demitrious threw for over 1,200 yards and 13 scores while running for another 1,400 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior. He doesn’t mind not playing his future position in high school and said operating a spread offense is “really fun.”

The 5-foot-9, 190-pound Chris had over 400 receiving yards with eight touchdowns and ran for another 200 yards.

“We’re always on the same page,” Chris said. “If I’m covered he’s telling me how to change the route and stuff like that.”

The Davis brothers also play on the same team as running back Will Mahone, who picked up an offer from Notre Dame on Thursday. The Irish have also been inquiring about the twins.

“They’re interested right now,” Demitrious said.

“The interest from Notre Dame has picked up,” added Chris. “They’re sending more and more mail. Hopefully that comes.”

The brothers will be looking at academics, offensive systems and interest from each school.

“Whatever best fits me offensively,” Demitrious said. “I probably want to go to a more wide-open offense. Academics are big to me, so a good school academically.”

Neither has set a firm timetable for making a decision.

“I’m not sure,” Demitrious said. “It could be before the season or it could be after.”

“I’d rather wait and take all of my visits, but I don’t know yet,” said Chris. “I might go early so it’s not in my head throughout the season.”

The brothers do know they’ll be at Pittsburgh this weekend. Their only other visit thus far has been an unofficial to Kent State.

Irish Sports Daily caught up with Maryland speedster Ronald Darby for an update on his recruitment. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Darby has a lengthy list of scholarship offers, including one from Notre Dame.

Darby is being recruited as an athlete, but wants to play cornerback in college. He blazed a 4.31 in the 40-yard dash at the Under Armour Junior Combine in January.

Find out about Darby's relationship with North Carolina running back Keith Marshall, what he thought of the Tee Shepard commitment and the odds on him being in South Bend for Notre Dame's spring game next month here.